Christchurch's Sophia Sinclair and Cambridge's Jeremy Suisted have both been titled the Press Service International 2015 New Zealand Basil Sellers Young Writer Winner with each taking home $1000 on Saturday 1 August in Sydney.
Sophia Sinclair and Jeremy Suisted also received a medallion and a small 25 x 30 cm art work by Tronson du Coudray.
These two young writers have a pedigree (as long as your arm) and this ministry is blessed to have such gifted and talented young people and both have huge readerships in Christian Today where their articles are published.
Jeremy Suisted is an Innovation Consultant and recently completed a Masters degree for which he received a $12,000 grant (Hamilton Uni). Jeremy Suisted was the 2014 Press Service International Theological Award winner. Jeremy's articles may be found on his PSI web presence CV site of his portfolio of articles.
Sophia Sinclair worked for the NZ national broadcaster (our ABC) before moving into mission media where she became the editor for CMS NZ and was 2nd in 2013 and won the Tronson Consistency Award last year. Sophia's articles may be found on her PSI web presence CV site of her portfolio of articles.
In 2015 Sophia and her husband Andrew and their baby Guy relocated to Sydney as Andrew was initiating a theology degree at the Sydney Bible Missionary College. This gave opportunity for Sophia to take on the role of editor for her follow young writers. This has been very providential. A wonderful asset to this ministry.
Since 2008 Press Service International has had articles published in Christian Today in a young writer program which today boasts 85 such young people writing a monthly 'Comment' piece along with some 'Christian News' articles.
The top award is named after Mr Basil Sellers AM the major sponsor of Well-Being Australia.
NZ Basil Sellers Award
2015 - Sophia Sinclair and Jeremy Suisted
2014 - Casey Murray
2013 - Daniel Jang
Five Panellists marked every New Zealand young writer's articles from January 20 to July 10 and it was these tallies that determined the winner.
These five Panellists were
Brian Carrell - Christchurch
Liz Hay - Christchurch
Peter & Kathryn Yaxley - Hobart
Deidre Tronson - Sydney
Natalie Chu - Christian Today
Press Service International young writer program with Christian Today, the 3rd largest Christian News provider in the world. It is one of the most astonishing features in publishing young people.
New Zealand 2015 Young Writer Awards
NZ - Basil Sellers Award
Sophia Sinclair - Christchurch
Jeremy Suisted - Cambridge
NZ - Tronson – Consistency (Two drawn)
Tim Newman - Christchurch
Brad Mills - Auckland
NZ Theological
Andrew Sinclair - Christchurch
Photo - Andrew Sinclair 2015 NZ Theological Award presented by Russell Modlin Well-Being Australia
NZ Most Improved
Jared Diprose - Auckland
NZ Editor's Award
Claire Debrois - Wellington
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
